Shuttle-moving mechanism for a schiffli embroidering machine



Sept. 24, 1963 T. BOHUS 3,104,636 SHUTTLE-MOVING MECHANISM FOR A SCHIFFLI EMBROIDERING MACHINE Filed June 29 1962 INVEN TOR. 7/500066 5 ml:

United States Patent Ofi ice 3,104,636 Patented Sept. 24, 1963 3,104,636 SHUTTLE-MOVING MECHANISM FOR A SCHIFFLI EMBROlDEG MACHINE Theodore Bohus, North Bergen, N.J., assignor to E.M.I.C. Corp., North Bergen, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 29, 1962, Ser. No. 206,224 7 Claims. (Cl. 112-95) The present invention relates to a S'chifili embroidering machine, of the type in which a plurality of needles are arranged in two vertically-spaced horizontal rows and are simultaneously moved in and out of the embroidered fabric by a Jacquard-pattern controlled driving machine.

In machines of the character described, each needle is provided with an individual shuttle. These shuttles are likewise mounted, to the other side of the embroidered fabric, in two horizontally-spaced rows. Each of the shuttles in the two rows is supported for movement relative to its cor-responding needle on the slanting guiding surface of a shuttle box. These shuttle boxes are mounted in vertically-spaced, horizontal rows and the shuttle boxes supported by them are all simultaneously moved by means of a "horizontally-disposed bar that is diagonally reciprocated at an angle to the vertical corresponding to the angle of the shuttle-supporting surface on each of the shuttle boxes. This bar mounts shuttlemoving pins that engage the bottom of the shuttles to move them upwardly and shuttle-engaging fingers that engage the top of the shuttles to move them downwardly.

The shuttle-moving bars are reciprocated in the diagonal movement by one or more diagonally-disposed rods which engage them and which are guided in suitably disposed sleeves fixed to the shuttle box supporting rods. These rods are each pivotally connected to one end of a rocker arm whose other end is pivotedon a common, horizontally reciprocating driving rod that is connected to the driving mechanism of the machine.

The apparatus described above has a certain shortcoming due to the fact that the stroke of the horizontally reciprocating shuttledriving rod, particularly the stroke away from the driving mechanism of the apparatus, which causes upward movement of the shuttles, terminates sharply, with a resulting jolt that is transmitted to the shuttle-moving bar and also to the shuttles, frequently causing their temporary or total displacement from their guiding surfaces, with resulting interference with proper embroidery stitch formation and even to needle breakage.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide means for snubbi-ng the horizontally-reciprocating shuttle-driven rod at the end of its movement away from the driving mechanism, to thereby eliminate any jolts and jars and their resulting unfavorable effects on the shuttle driven by it.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide snubbing means, of the character described and for the purpose described, which are relatively simple in construction and easy and economical to produce and install.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide snubbing means, of the character described, which, in spite of their relative simplicity and low cost, are highly effective for their purpose and bring about substantial economies in the operation of the machine, due to the elimination of at least one cause for stoppage for repairs and also brings about improvement in the embroidered products produced on the machine by eliminating at least some of the causes for uneven or skipped stitches.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the device of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and from 2 the description following. it is to be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible, and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of a S'chifili embroidering machine, as seen from the shuttle side thereof, showing a snubbing device of the present invention installed thereon, the apparatus being shown with the snubber in operation; and

FIG. 2 is a foreshortened fragmentary section on an enlarged scale, taken onthe plane of line 22 of FIG. 1.

Referring now, in greater detail, to the accompanying drawings illustrating the present invention, the same show a fragmentary portion of one conventional fonrn of a Schifili embroidering machine of the type to which the present invention relates. The machine is shown to include a lower rear horizontal tie-beam, 10, of the machine frame structure, on which is mounted one or more platforms, 12, (only one shown) each supporting an upright post, 14, on which is pivoted, as at 15, a rocker arm, 16. The lower end of the rocker arm is pivotally connected, as by a knuckle, 18, to a horizontally-reciprocating main shuttle-driving rod, 20, which is connectable by one end to a driving mechanism (at the right, in the drawings, but not shown) for reciprocation in synchronized relation to the movement of the embroidering needles of the machine (likewise not shown) Also shown in the drawings is a conventional, horizontal platform, 22, conventionally fixedly supported on the frame of the machine, which supports a plurality of closely adjacent shuttle boxes, 24, each of which supports, on its shuttle-guiding face, which is set at a slight angle to the vertical, a shuttle, 26; an individual shuttle box and shuttle being provided for each of the needles in the machine. The shuttle box platform 22 sup-ports one or more slantingly arranged sleeves, 28 (only one shown) in which is reciprocably guided a rod, 30, that is fixedly connected to a horizontally-disposed shuttle-moving member, 32, consisting of a pair of interconnected vertically-spaced parallel elements or bars, 34 and 36, that are also parallel to the shuttle boxes platform 22. The lower one of the elements, 34, carries shuttle-moving pins, 33, that engage the bottoms of the shuttles 26 and the upper one of the elements, 36, supports generally resilient, shuttle-engaging fingers *(not shown in the drawings), that engage the top of the shuttles, so that as the shuttle-moving member 32 is reciprooated up and down by the rod 30, the shuttles 26 are moved upwardly by pins 38 and downwardly by the fingers.

Since two rows of horizontal needles are generally provided in an embroidering apparatus of the type to which the present invention relates, two vertically-spaced shuttle-supporting platforms are provided on such ap paratus, as well as two shuttle-moving members 32; the rod 30 extending upwardly to be guided in sleeves similar to sleeves 28 secured to the upper shuttle platform, and is fixedly secured to the upper shuttle-moving member in the same manner as to the lower shuttle-moving member. 32, illustrated in the drawings, so that both shuttlemovingmembers are simultaneously reciproca-ble by the rod 30.

Mounted on the rod 30, preferably between the lower shuttle-moving member 32 and the upper shuttle platform, is a bracket arm, 40, on whose lower-end is pivoted, as at 42,-to one end of a link, 44, whose other end is pivoted, as at 46, to the upper end of the rocker arm 16.

Thus, when the main shuttle-driving rod 20 is moved towards the left, in the drawings, the rocker arm 16 raises the rod 30 diagonally upwardly, thereby moving the shuttle-moving member 32 diagonally upwardly in a horizontal plane, moving all of the shuttle 26 upwardly. On the reverse stroke of the main shuttle-driving rod 2%, the rod 30 is lowered, lowering the shuttle-moving member 32 land the fingers mounted thereon assuring the returning of the shuttles to their at-rest position at the lower end of the shuttle boxes 24. I

in the Schiflli ernbroidering machines of the character described as heretofore constructed, the movement of the driving rod 20 away from its motive source terminated abruptly, with a consequent jolt or shock. This shock or jolt transmitted through the medium of the rocker arm 16 to the rod 30, and by the rod 30 to the shuttle-moving bar 32, so that the upper movement of the shuttles 26 likewise terminated in .a jolt or shock that frequently displaced them from the supporting surfaces on the shuttle boxes 24, to interfere with stitch formation. I have found it desirable, therefore, to provide means for snub'oing the end of the shuttle-raising stroke of the main driving shaft 20 to eliminate jolt and shock and to render it smooth and gradual. Such snubbing means may be most advantageously provided adjacent one or more of the knuckles 18 that pivota-lly connect the lower end of the rocker arms '16 to the main driving rod 20. Preferably, however, it is sufiicient to provide only a single snubbing means, preferably adjacent the end-most of the knuckles on the rod 20; namely, the one most remote from the motive power for such main driving rod. Such snubbing means is shown to comprise a bracket, 59, suitably mounted transversely on the tie-beam 10,

adjacent a knuckle 18, and to the side of such knuckle furthest from the driving end of the machine, in relative proximity to such knuckle 18. The bracket '50 is formed with an extension, 52, that extends over the driving rod 20 and is transversely hollowed, as at 54, to form a recess that encompasses a portion of the driving rod 20. A spring, 56, is mounted over the portion of the driving rod 20 within the recess 54. The end of the spring remote from the adjacent knuckle 18' abuts a plate, 60, which is formed with an opening, 58, by which it is mounted over the end of the driving rod 20 and which is secured to the remote side of the extension 52 0f the bracket over the recess 54, the other end of the spring being free and engageable against the knuckle 18, preferably with the interposition of a washer, 62.

It will be apparent that when the main driving rod 20 is moved into shuttle-raising position (to the left, in the drawings) as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and as it approaches the end of its stroke the washer 62, backed up by the knuckle 18, will strike against the adjacent end of the spring 56 which will then snub the end of such rod-movement stroke, to make it gradual and smoothending, thereby making the upward movement of the shuttles 36 terminate gradually and without jolt. It will also be apparent that the snubbing of the rod 20 in its movement to shuttle-raising position will reduce the noise and vibration of the machine when in operation, to make its use quieter and more comfortable and to reduce the frequency of readjustments due to excessive vibration.

It will also be apparent that the snubbingmechanism of the present invention is of relatively simple construction and easy and economical to produce and to install, either as part of a new machine or on machines already in operation.

It will be further apparent that numerous modifications and variations in the device of the present invention may be made by anyone skilled in the art, in accordance with the principles of the invention hereinabove set forth, and without the exercise of any-inventive ingenuity. I desire, therefore, to be protected for any and all such modifications and variations that may be made within the r 4 spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. In a Schifiii embroidering machine, including a frame having a horizontal tie beam, a fixedly-supported horizontal shuttle box supporting platform, a shuttle-moving bar, a horizontally-disposed and horizontally-recriprocable main shuttle-driving rod adjacent said tie-beam, and a plurality of spaced rods connecting said reciprocating shuttle driving rod to said shuttle-moving bar for raising and lowering the same upon reciprocation of said driving rod, means for snubbing one of the strokes of the reciprocating movement of said driving rod, said means comprising an abutment supported on said tiebeam and extending over said driving rod, an abutment on said driving rod spaced from said tie-beam supported abutment, and a coil spring mounted over said driving a 3. The Schifiii embroidering machine of claim 1, wherep in a bracket is mounted on said tie-beam, said bracket having a portion extending toward said driving rod, said brackct extension including means disposed adjacent said driving rod and forming one of said abutments for said spring.

4. The Schifiii embroidering machine of claim 1, wherein a bracket is secured to said tie-beam, said bracket having a portion extending over and freely encompassing said driving rod, said driving rod-encompassing portion of said bracket including a portion forming one of said abutments for said spring.

5. The Schiffti embroidering machine of claim 1, wherein said snubbing means connecting said reciprocating driving rod to said shuttle-moving bar includes enlarged pivot means mounted on said driving rod, said pivot means forming one of said abutments for said spring, and wherein the other of said abutments for said spring comprises a bracket mounted on said tie-beam, said bracket having a. 7

portion extending over and freely encompassing said driving rod, said extension including a portion forming an abutment for the other end of said spring.

6. In a Schiflli embroidering machine, including a frame and :a main shuttle-driving rod and means mounting said rod for horizontal reciprocation along its longitudinal axis,

means snubbing the terminal portion of one reciprocating stroke of said shuttledriving rod, said means comprising a coil spring mounted over a portion of said shuttle-driving rod, an abutment for one end of said spring on said driving rod and an abutment for the other end of said spring supported on said frame, and said second-named abutment arranged to maintain said spring in position for contact by said first-named abutment towards the end of said reciprocating stroke of said shuttle-driving rod.

7. The Schiflli embroider-ing machine of claim 6, where in said second-named abutment includes a member mounted on said frame and extending past said shuttle-driving rod, said member having a vertically-disposed wall formed with an opening therethrough, said wall fitted by said opening over said main driving rod and engaging said spring by the marginal edge portions of said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,347,232 Sau-rer July 20, 1920 2,295,419 Miskelly Sept. 8, 1942 2,381,390 Vanke Aug. 7, 1945 

1. IN A SCHIFFLI EMBROIDERING MACHINE, INCLUDING A FRAME HAVING A HORIZONTAL TIE-BEAM, A FIXEDLY-SUPPORTED HORIZONTAL SHUTTLE BOX SUPPORTING PLATFORM, A SHUTTLE-MOVING BAR, A HORIZONTALLY-DISPOSED AND HORIZONTALLY-RECRIPROCABLE MAIN SHUTTLE-DRIVING ROD ADJACENT SAID TIE-BEAM, AND A PLURALITY OF SPACED RODS CONNECTING SAID RECIPROCATING SHUTTLE DRIVING ROD TO SAID SHUTTLE-MOVING BAR FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE SAME UPON RECIPROCATION OF SAID DRIVING ROD, MEANS FOR SNUBBING ONE OF THE STROKES OF THE RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT OF SAID DRIVING ROD, SAID MEANS COMPRISING AN ABUTMENT SUPPORTED ON SAID TIEBEAM AND EXTENDING OVER SAID DRIVING ROD, AN ABUTMENT ON SAID DRIVING ROD SPACED FROM SAID TIE-BEAM SUPPORTED ABUTMENT, AND A COIL SPRING MOUNTED OVER SAID DRIVING ROD INTERMEDIATE SAID ABUTMENTS, SAID ABUTMENTS ARRANGED FOR ENGAGEMENT OF THE END OF SAID SPRING AT THE END PORTION OF SAID DRIVING ROD STROKE. 